All About Kit Homes
What is a kit home?
A kit home is a house made from prefabricated components delivered to a specified location where to be assembled either by the owner builder or by a hired building professional. Kit homes designed to be affordable and can save around 30% when building a new home. They are available in various designs, big or small and have the potential to customize each floor plan to suit.
What is Wholesale Homes and Sheds?
Wholesale Homes and Sheds is Australia’s fastest growing supplier of top-of-the-line kit home materials throughout Australia. Started in 2007, the company provides a wide range of kit home types in either steel or timber construction – from basic one-bedroom bungalows to two-story structures big enough for six bedrooms. We also offer granny flats to any location in the country. We have also started to deliver our quality products to one of our neighboring countries, New Caledonia.
What’s included in a kit home?
At Wholesale Homes and Sheds, we clearly classify components into the four building stages of a kit home – Floor Kit, Lockup Kit, Lining Kit and Final Kit.
Floor Kit Components
- All the basic materials needed to lay the flooring of your structure – H3-treated house bearers and joists, bearer infill, termifloor sheeting and merbau hardwood decking, among others.
- Please note that while sub floor posts are not included in our standard package, we can supply them if requested.
- Steel bearers and joists can also be supplied if required.
Lock Up Components
- At the stage where the structure is complete externally – i. e., the external walls, roof, windows and doors are fitted, Wholesale Homes and Sheds materials include engineered plans and specifications for submission to your Local Council, internal and external frames, bracing, battens and more.
- They include quality products like Sisalation® external wall insulation, Colorbond® roofing and Hardiflex® sheets, for instance.
- If garage is included in your plan, these will also include sectional panel lift-garage doors, jambs, motor and remote control.
- Steel frames and trusses can also be supplied if required.
Lining Components
- These include plasterboards and Villaboard® products for walls, FJP (finger-jointed pre-primed) timber for skirting and architraves, among others.
- Pre-hung and sliding door sets include door furniture and locks as per plan.
Final Components
- These are mainly composed of kitchen and bath essentials like ceramic toilets, vanity unit and basin, stainless steel kitchen sink, chrome tap sets, hot water system, and more.
- Stainless steel electric oven and cook top are included. Range hood is supplied if overhead cupboards are in the plan.
Click on our Inclusions page for the full list of Components for each of the four stages.
What’s not included in a kit home?
While our kit home provides almost all the basic necessities for you to build your own home, labour, delivery, plumbing, soil testing, landscaping and other related products and services are among the exclusions. These are usually purchased separately from a kit home.
For a complete list of exclusions, please see this page.
Can I make changes to a Wholesale Homes and Sheds design?
We will then send your plans to you (this is your 1st prelim) so that you can have a look through them and check to see if you are happy with all aspects of your plans. If you require changes we will make the changes at no cost to you (this does not include any extra materials that are required).
We will then resend them to you after the changes have been made. If you require more changes there is still no cost to you (this does not include any extra materials that are required).
Once you are 100% happy with the plans, we will get you to sign off on them. We will then finalize your plans and have the necessary engineering carried out as well as your energy report.
Do you have display kit homes that I can visit?
We don’t have display homes dedicated to interested buyers. However, there may be an actual Wholesale Homes and Sheds Kit Home built that you can see near your area. Please email us at info@wholesalehomesandsheds.com.au.
We have found display homes are very expensive to operate and upkeep and prefer to pass the savings on to our buyers.
How suitable are Wholesale Homes and Sheds for regions prone to cyclone and other environmental conditions?
We provide kit homes made for cyclone-rated regions. We can also supply structures with the appropriate materials for snowy areas or BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) zones. In addition, our decking materials are made of Durability Class 1 merbau hardwood and not pine, which is the usual material for most kit homes in Australia.
Building a Wholesale Homes and Sheds Kit Home
I’m just your usual handy man. Can I build a Wholesale Homes and Sheds Kit Home myself?
Yes. We provide Wholesale Homes and Sheds so that even the average handy man can put up his own home with minimal tools, equipment and professional service fees.
You will still have to get expert assistance in plumbing, electricity and other tasks that need a license or special skill. But for the most part, you’ll find that our kit home’s inclusions are easy to build and our construction guide that we have just updated is the most comprehensive that you’ll find.
We have 7-day technical support whilst building as we understand being an owner builder, a lot of the work is completed over the weekends outside office hours. Our team will always be ready to help you with any questions or problems you may encounter and get you back on track in no time.
Do you have recommended professionals in my area who can help me build my kit home?
This depends upon your location. We do have a few tradesman locally on the Gold Coast and some other regions that we could recommend, but we are not going to recommend a tradesman that we haven’t seen their quality of work.
Purchasing a Kit Home
I’m already interested in building a kit home. How do I start? What are your requirements?
We can give you a quote immediately after you send us the following basic information:
- Wind rating
- BAL rating
- Choice of timber or steel
- Preferred home design
Expect a transparent quote itemized according to these 4 stages: Floor Kit, Lockup Kit, Lining Kit and Final Kit. As soon as you approve our quote, we can prepare the kit home contract for you to sign.
Can I use my own design? Or do I have to pick from your list?
You can do either. You can use your own design or ask us to supply you with a design that’s perfect for your needs and preferences.
You can email us at sales@wholesalehomesandsheds.com.au or call us at 1300 854 975 for more details.
I am happy with the design and the price, what’s next?
Because a Kit Home is affordable and we are here to save you money.
Firstly all we require is a 5% deposit which will allows us to get started with your plans, ready for your prelim drawings.
Secondly, we require a further 5% payment once you are 100% happy with your plans so can complete all your engineering, energy report and full detailed plans.
After we will require a 35% of the contract price after Council approval and we keep in regular contact to organize on a delivery date.
Finally the remaining 55% balance before delivery of all kit home components.
Purchasing a Shed
I want to add another garage door to the back of my shed, Can i do that?
Yes of course, Our advance software allows us to make whatever changes necessary whether that means adding a garage door or removing wall panels to make a open farm-type shed, we can do it.
I have a slab already built, Can i built a new shed on the existing slab?
Yes, Our Software allows the precise engineering for existing and new slabs.
I have purchased my shed, How long can i expect delivery?
Delivery to your site can take up to 6 weeks depending on your location.
Delivery
Do you deliver to all states and territories in Australia?
Yes. We can deliver to anywhere in Australia. Please call us call us at 1300 854 975 or email us at info@wholesalehomesandsheds.com.au if you have location-related questions.
Do you deliver outside Australia?
While we specialize in providing quality and affordable homes that comply with regulations in every state and territory in Australia, we have delivered to New Caledonia, a neighboring island off Australia.
Email us at info@wholesalehomesandsheds.com.au or call us at 1300 854 975 to know more about ordering overseas.
How do I make sure the delivery of ALL kit home components to my location?
Once we deliver the kit home components to you, please check all items according to your checklist or contract. Email us the results immediately.
Granny Flats
What is a granny flat?
As the name implies, this structure is built in your property as a separate living area for your aging parents. In certain countries like Australia, specific laws in every state or territory are implemented regarding the building of granny flats.
What’s the difference between a granny flat and a kit home?
Generally, the major difference between a granny flat and a kit home (especially a one-bedroom type) is the floor size. A granny flat can only be up to 60 to 70 sqm, while a kit home can be more than 70 sqm.
Please check with your local council regarding their regulations on building granny flats if you plan to have one in your property.
Some Kit Home Terms Defined…
You’ll come across some terms, brands and other items on this site that may leave you wondering, especially when it’s your first to time to build or even scout for a new home. We’ve defined/described them for you so you’ll understand better about building a kit home and know what you’re getting in a Wholesale Homes and Sheds Kit Home.
Architrave
The decorated framing of a panel or an opening, such as a window or an entry way.
BAL Rating
(Bushfire Attack Level)
Each property is required to have a Bushfire Assessment regardless of the location. It is a national government regulation ranging from Low bushfire level to High Flame Zone. There 6 levels in total which depend on the following characteristics of your property:
- Location
- Vegetation type in the area
- Distance from vegetation
- Slope
DAR
(Dressed All Round) Dressed with a smooth finish – referring to wood or timber.
FJP
(Finger-Jointed Pine)
A grade of unfinished timber made from short “wood fingers” jointed together to create each timber piece of moulding or other material.
H3-treated house bearers
House bearers comprise the first layer in timber flooring. They support the joists, which are nailed to them. When timber is said to be H3-treated, they are resistant to common decay, borer and termite problems. With this treatment, the wood becomes ideal for outside, above ground construction.
Merbau decking
Merbau is a type of timber that’s popular for decking use in Australia. It’s fire-rated, categorised Durability Class 1 and resistant to rotting and insect problems.
Also known as kwila, this hardwood has a reddish brown colour. The beauty of its grain and the abundance of natural oil in this wood make it also a common choice for furniture in Asia.
Sisalation®
This is the brand of a high-quality reflective foil material that provides homes insulation and protection against heat, cold, moisture and dust. It’s used in Wholesale Homes and Sheds Kit Homes external wall components.
Villaboard®
This brand is known to be a high performance board ideal for a smooth wall-lining. It can be painted, tiled or wall-papered. It’s also suitable for both wet and dry areas. It’s used on walls in all of our bathrooms, ensuites and laundries.